An attempt to optimize human resources allocation based on spatial diversity of COVID-19 cases in Poland

Our task is to examine the relationship between the SARS-CoV-2 arrival and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the first wave (period from March 4 to May 22, 2020 (unofficial data)), and socio-economic variables at the powiat (county) level (NUTS-4) using simple statistical techniques such as data visualization, correlation analysis, spatial clustering and multiple linear regression. We showed that immigration and the logarithm of general mobility is the best predictor of SARS-CoV-2 arrival times, while emigration, industrialization and air quality explain the most of the size of the epidemic in poviats. On the other hand, infection dynamics is driven to a lesser extent by previously postulated variables such as population size and density, income or the size of the elderly population. Our analyses could support Polish authorities in preparation for the second wave of infections and optimal management of resources as we have provided a proposition of optimal distribution of human resources between poviats. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The authors would like to thank the EC(EOSC-48) for partial support of data collection, the NCN (2016/22/E/HS2/00034) for proofreading ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Ethical approval not needed All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes Data and codes available: https://github.com/ajarynowski/Spatial\_Covid\_Poland [https://github.com/ajarynowski/Spatial\_Covid\_Poland][1] [1]: https://github.com/ajarynowski/Spatial_Covid_Poland